The EDO Bulletin is a free weekly bulletin that provides a listing of news, events, public notices and opportunities for public comment.
EDO News and Events
1. Caring for Country Launch: State Parliament
2. Workshops: Caring for Country
3. Seminar: Can the law save the Grey Nurse Shark?
Environmental Law Notices – New South Wales
4. Major Project Proposals – Invitation to Comment
5. State Conservation Notices – Invitation to Comment
6. BioBanking Public Exhibition and Information Sessions
Environmental Law Notices – Commonwealth
7. EPBC Referrals – Invitation to Comment
Community News
8. Sydney Law School Seminar: Tax and Climate Change
9. Walk Against Warming
10. Australian Conservation Foundation job vacancy: Legal Adviser
EDO News and Events
1. Caring for Country Launch: State Parliament
The Environmental Defender's Office would like to invite you to the launch of ”Caring for Country - A Guide to NSW Environmental Law for Aboriginal Communities”. The EDO would like to thank the Law and Justice Foundation of NSW for their financial support with this project.
Date : Tuesday November 13
Time : 5.30 sharp - 7.00pm
Venue : Strangers Lounge, NSW Parliament House
2. Workshops: Caring for Country
The Environmental Defender's Office will be presenting a series of FREE regional workshops providing practical information about environmental law for Aboriginal people. This series is designed to complement the new EDO publication Caring for Country - A Guide to NSW Environmental Law for Aboriginal Communities.
The workshops will cover a variety of issues, including:
An overview of the legal system and key environmental laws
The nomination and preservation system for cultural heritage
Access to and permitted activities in protected areas
How the planning and development system works
There will be the two remaining workshops in this series, held in Narooma and Dubbo.
3. Seminar: Can the law save the Grey Nurse Shark?
The EDO represented the NSW Nature Conservation Council (NCC) in proceedings brought in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) against the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment and Heritage. The legal action was for strict no-fishing zones to be introduced as part of a bid to protect the dwindling numbers of Grey Nurse Sharks. NCC presented evidence to the AAT that the NSW Ocean Trap and Line Fishery (OTLF) has a significant impact on the nationally listed critically endangered east coast population of the Grey Nurse Shark. The OTLF is a multi-species targeted fishery that operates within the habitat areas of the Grey Nurse Shark and a number of other threatened species. The NCC was seeking the implementation of fishery closures of specific key shark aggregation areas and the banning of the use of wire traces in deeper waters. It was also seeking an order that sanctuaries be established in areas including Maroubra Beach in Sydney and Montague Island. In a judgement handed down on 18 October 2007 the AAT upheld the Minister's approval of the OTLF as a wildlife trade operation on the basis that the fishery, operated in accordance with the conditions imposed by the Minister, will not be detrimental to the survival of the Grey Nurse Shark.
This seminar will explore some of the legal, environmental and scientific issues and outcomes from this important and interesting legal case.
Speakers : Jessica Wood, Solicitor Environmental Defender's Office; Megan Kessler, Nature Conservation Council Date : Monday 26 November 2007
Time : 5.30 for 5.45 pm start (finish by 7.30)
Venue : DLA Phillips Fox, Level 38, 201 Elizabeth Street Sydney
RSVP :
We would like to thank DLA Phillips Fox for generously providing a venue for this seminar
Environmental Law Notices – New South Wales
4. Major Project Proposals – Invitation to Comment
For a full listing of Major Project proposals currently available for public comment, visit the Department of Planning website at http://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/asp/das.asp
Port Botany : Empty Container Storage Park
5. State Conservation Notices – Invitation to Comment
The full listing of conservation plans is available for public comment on the National Parks and Wildlife website at www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au . Follow the link entitled ‘Conservation Plans for Public Comment' on the left side of the screen. Draft Plan
Rebuilding of Paton's Hut, on exhibition until 16 November 2007
6. BioBanking Public Exhibition and Information Sessions
Public exhibition on the NSW Biodiversity Offsets and Banking Scheme (BioBanking) is scheduled to begin in November 2007. The aim of the public exhibition is to obtain feedback on details of the scheme's operation before commencement. The Department of Environment and Climate Change, with the support of local government, will be hosting a number of Public Information Sessions across NSW, to explain the intended operation of the scheme and provide an overview of the materials that will be on public exhibition.
The closing date for submissions is 1 February 2008.
To coincide with the Information Sessions the following material will be available on the department's website. These documents will provide a broad overview of the scheme and its operation in particular how credits will be calculated.
Draft BioBanking Assessment Methodology and Background Paper
Peer review and DECC response
Pilot program report
Compliance assurance strategy
Scheme Overview Booklet
The Regulation and Regulatory Impact Statement will be released by December 2007. The scheme will then commence in 2008. For information on BioBanking and materials on public exhibition please visit http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/threatspec/biobankscheme.htm
Environmental Law Notices – Commonwealth
7. EPBC Referrals – Invitation to Comment
Referrals under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 are available for comment on the Department of Environment and Water Resources website at: http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/epbc/epbc_ap.pl .
Title : F3 to Branxton Link Electricity Adjustments
Proponent : Energy Australia
Site : From F3 near Seahampton to New England Highway west of Branxton
Ref no : 2007/3814 Comments due : 13 November 2007
Description : To accommodate the F3 to Branxton Link, Energy Australia proposes to relocate or adjust electricity infrastructure at a number of locations. Land within proposed easements may be cleared, and new poles with conductors attached. Electricity service will then be switched to new conductors and existing poles removed.
Community News
8. Sydney Law School Seminar: Tax and Climate Change
This seminar will examine the tax implications of the measures proposed to limit greenhouse gas emissions. It explains the tax-based measures that are available. It will also outline the interaction of an emissions-trading regime with existing tax laws.
Speaker : David Russell QC
Commentator : Ms Celeste Black, Faculty of Law, University of Sydney
Date : Thursday 8 November
Time : 5.30 – 7pm
Venue : Sydney Law School, 173 Phillip Street, Sydney
Concerned about climate change and want to make a difference? Unite with hundreds of thousands of others at this year's Walk Against Warming, Australia's largest community day of action on climate change. Show your support for urgent government action on climate change.
Date : Sunday 11 November
Time : 1 pm
Where : Domain, Sydney
The walks are two weeks before the Federal Election. For further details and Walks in other states, please check www.walkagainstwarming.org
10. Australian Conservation Foundation job vacancy: Legal Advisor
You are a lawyer confident with commercial transactions and with some exposure to environmental law. With your passion and commitment to making a difference you'll be excited by the opportunity to take responsibility for ACF's organisational legal needs. And you'll bring lateral thinking on legal issues to ACF's environmental campaigns.
Work with an inspiring & influential environment leader
Be on the cutting edge of environmental law & advocacy
Enjoy one of the greenest offices in Australia
The Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) has been a strong and effective voice for the environment for 40 years and is committed to inspiring people to achieve a healthy environment. We have a vision for a better, more sustainable Australia and a brighter future for our children. This full-time position is based in ACF's Melbourne office in the award-winning 60L Green Building.
EDO New South Wales offers free telephone advice on the Environmental Law Line. Open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday between 2:30pm and 5:30pm. Call 02 9262 6989, or for NSW residents outside of Sydney call 1800 626 239. If you require the assistance of an interpreter please call TIS National on 131 450 and ask to speak with the Environmental Defender's Office on 02 9262 6989
This bulletin is meant for your general information. Where possible, references are given so that readers can access original sources or find more information. Any information contained in this bulletin does not represent legal advice. The EDO does not endorse and is not affiliated with events advertised in the Community News section.
